PANAMA

In 2000 Panama fielded a combined team – irrespective of religious ties – for what is believed to be the first time in 36 years. A national side played two fixtures against a touring Venezuelan XI, winning the first game and gaining the edge in the second before rain intervened. In the opening game, Asif Patel scored 34 of his 38 in one over. Unfortunately we have no cricket grounds so the game has to be played in football or baseball stadiums. Cricket in Panama dates back to about 1900, when West Indians arrived to help build the Panama Canal. Cricket then faded away until the Asian community began to establish itself. Religious conflicts meant that separate tournaments for Muslims and Hindus evolved. Games continue to be controversial: last season during their semi-final in the Muslim competition, Bhatan CC walked off the field in protest against time-wasting by Paraiso CC, who were due to win on run-rate if the game was not completed by six o’clock. Saleh and Musaji Banah, Wisden 2001

PERU

The Lima Cricket and Football Club has now completed 15 years’ play without losing a single minute to rain (which is a good reason to visit for our annual Easter tournament). We play from February to April, and our pitch is pretty rough because football is played in winter. It is a grass surface but a broadleaf grass which forms a mat under the leaves. It is not conducive to driving, and many a fine innings has been played without a single cover-drive, but plenty of lusty blows over the boundary. We now have a hard core of 25 players (plus tourists, who are welcome), more than at any time in my 15 years here. There has not been an influx, but the Brits at the cricket club have now joined forces with local Asians. When I had been here a year or two and was driving past the clifftop park in Lima, I saw a couple of what I assumed were locals playing tip and run with a cricket bat. Good God, I thought, dived out of the car and talked to them. Of course, they turned out to be Indians, and were immediately invited along. We now have a regular hotly contested fixture: India and Pakistan v Rest of the World, whose team includes our one Peruvian, Jorge Pancorvo, an excellent wicketkeeper (aged 51 but still fit). Vivian Ash, Wisden 2005